Spraying machine



2 $HEETSSHEET l INVENTOR WM ATTORNEY G. W. DAUGHERTY SPRAYING MACHINE Aug. 26, 1952 Flled Oct. 12, 1946 26, 1952 G. w. DAUGHERTY 2,608,441

SPRAYING MACHINE Filed Oct. 12, 1946 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEET 2 I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1952 SPRAYING MACHINE George Williams Daugherty, Orlando, Fla., as signor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application October 12, 1946, Serial No. 703,016

This application relates to a spraying and dusting machine of the type set forth in my earlier application Serial No. 639,949 filed January 9, 1946, now Patent No. 2,47 6,960. In that application, I show a spraying machine in which a ring of air is developed and flows axially longitudinally of the machine. By the utilization of deflector means, this ring of air is then directed radially of the machine and flows toward the foliage to be sprayed.

In a machine of the particular class, and this is true also of machines in which a blast of air other than in the form of a ring is generated, it is frequently desirable that the volume of air be greatly increased. This can, of course, be accomplished by providing a larger propeller for generating the air blast, or it may be provided by driving the air blast generating means at a higher speed. This latter method will, of course, mean the generation of a swifter moving stream of air, and is not desirable under many conditions. The first method yields a larger machine that is difficult to drive through an orange. grove or orchard. I have conceived'a very simple and effective means for generating a considerably increased volume of air Without the incidental enlarging of the propeller which would lead to the enlargement of the entire machine. Also, my conception makes it possible to obtain an increased volume of air flowing at a low and desired speed.

In brief, I utilize two air blast generating mechanisms, and these may be of the type found in my earlier application supra. These air blast generating mechanisms are placed so that the blasts of air generated move toward one another but are then deflected radially to form preferably, and in effect, a single blast of air. Thus, by a simple expedientwhichmarks a complete departure from the normal development-of the prior art, I am able to obtain a double volumeof air-while retaining the same speed of flow of the air and the same diameter of. the machine to facilitate its movement through'an orange'grove, orchard, or the like. In addition, because I use substantially duplicate air blast generating units, I am not required to expend large sums of money for the development of a new machine such as would be required ordinarily inthe development of a machine having double the normal air flow.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that thedetaile'd description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my con tributionv to the art may be better appreciated.

2 Claims. (01. 299-86) There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention, so that my invention should therefore not be limited to the particular structure herein disclosed.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l is a vertical elevation of the machine of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a part of the machine, while Fig. 3 is a section taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be noted that my machine is substantially similar to the machine of my earlier application. Therefore, in describing the present machine, I shall not lay great stress on many of the constructional features, as by reference to my earlier application the construction of the machine will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The machine comprises a chassis having a frame l6 equipped with a forward hitch portion II and a pair of supporting wheels l2 whereby the machine may be hauled by a tractor or other device. Centrally of the machine, there is supported a large tank IS in which may be contained the spraying material where the machine is to be used as a sprayer. By positioning the tank directly over the Wheels 12, the machine is balanced best relatively to the single axle H thereof, and considerably less stress is placed on the hitch H.

At the forward end of the chassis frame [0 there is supported an internal combustion engine [5 which through a suitable pulley It drives a series of belts I! that in turn drive a pulley l8 keyed to one end if a shaft [9. The-shaft [9 extendsthrough a pipe 19a welded at its ends to the end walls of the tank l3 in accordance with the teachings of my earlier patent application Serial No. 545,975 filed July 21, 1944, now Patent No. 2,475,449.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the right hand end of the shaft I9 is coupled through a flexible coupling 20 to a shaft 2|. The shaft 2! is supported by brackets 22, 23, 24, and 25. Brackets 22 and 23 are welded to a cylindrical sleeve 26 that has weld-ed thereto the edges of a series of curved air straightening vanes 21 spaced circumferentially about the periphery of the cylindrical sleeve 26. The edges of the vanes 21 opposite the edges that are welded to the cylindrical sleeve aeoa iai 26 are welded to a cylindrical member 28 forming the outer surface of the tunnel or air chamber through which one of the air blasts is generated. The cylindrical tunnel member 28 has welded thereto a somewhat similar but shorter cylindrical portion 29 and a further such portion 30, the parts 28, 29, and 30 being thus secured to form an integral unit reinforced by. five structural angular members 31 bent in the form of a circle and welded in position. I l:

A propeller hub 32 is keyed at 33 to the shaft 2i and has extending therefrom integralb-l'ades 34 for developing an air blast. It is readilyseen that the blades 34 will develop a considerable blast of air that will move in the-ri'ng-like space between the cylindrical sleeve 26 and the outer surfaces 28, 29, 30 of the tunnel. It will be the function of the several vanes 21 that support the cylindrical sleeve 26 relatively to the tunnel, to straighten the blast of air as it flows in the form of a ring between the cylindrical sleeve 26 and the'tun'nel' surface 28.

As best seen in Fig. 2, there is secured to the right hand end of the tunnel formed by the'membe'rs '28, 29, and 38, a deflector assembly comprising an inner deflector35, an intermediate deflector 3t, and an outer deflector 31. The deflector assembly is formed of four castings with each casting occupyingQO" of a circle, and'each casting having one each of the deflector portions 4 35, 36, 37. This is probably best set forth inr'ny Patent No. 2,476,960. A connecting strut 38 is used to reinforceea'ch casting and to maintain in'position the intermediate deflector 35. It will, of course, be appreciated that the three deflectors 35, 38, and 3? may be fabricated in any. other manner that may be desired, it being merely ne'cessary'that they occupy'the position indicated best in Fig. 2.

t will be noted that the outer-deflector 31 is formed witha surface 3S. that is substantially a continuationof the outer surface of the cylindrical sleeve 26. Therefore, the air blast will flow to the. right from the propeller blades 34 axially of the machine in the form of a ring and will be turned bythe surface 39 of the outer deflector 3? so as to flow radially of the machine. The inner deflector is formed with asur face 53 that is substantially.anextension of "the inner surface of the tunnel formed'by the members 28,

25, and 3B, and will co-act also with the blast of air to turn it radially 0f the machine. The intermediate or central deflector 56 will, of'course, assist the two outer deflectors in their functioning to turn the blast of air. To secure the defl'ector assembly in position, I may utilizea' series of bolts -41 for bolting the deflector assembly castings to the'flange 22 of a structural member welded 'to thepartttl of the tunnel and-to the extreme right structural angle 3 I.

For supporting the air tunnel in position relatively to the frame lilfI utilize a suitablyreinforced sheet metal member 55 that is bolted or otherwise secured to the frame ill. The 'n'iernber 45 is positioned to form substantially an extension of the surface of the tank ['3 so that the machine will haveastreamlined'effect and will be of substantially the same diameter throughout its length'to 'facilitate'movement through a grove or orchard. A screen 46 is preferably placed in position between-the'sheet metal member 45 and the end of the tank '3 'and 'cfovers -'an air in-take' passage 47 whereby air is made accessible to the propeller blades. I

To facilitate the flow of'the air, I utilize a 4 sheet metal member 48 shaped so that its sur-'- face tends to flow into the line of the propeller hub 32 from which extend the blades 34, and also into alignment with the surface of sleeve 26. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the reasons for this arrangement, and the efficiency of the air now resulting therefrom. vSimilarly, a sheet metal member 49 is utilized to form the other surface of the air passage 41, the surface of the member 59 flowing into the surface of the tunnel formed by the members 28, 29, and 313. It

will now be readily appreciated that air will be taken in through the passage 41 and developed by the propeller-blades 34 into a ring of air flowing through the tunnel and straightened by the vanes 21. Thereafter, this ring of air will be deflected radially of the machine by the deflector assembly.

Asecond air blast developing means or tunnel formed as a duplicate of the one just described, is placed at'the extreme right end of the machine. To emphasize the fact that it is a duplicate of the first tunnel, its parts are designated by the numerals used onthe first-tunnel, but with the letter a added thereto. The second tunnel is so arranged, however, that the blast of air generated thereby will flow axially in a direction directly opposite to the air blast generated by the propellerblades 34 of the first tunnel. Through means of the deflectors 35a, 35a, and 31a, that are duplicates of deflectors "35, 3B, and 32', the second blast of air will, however, flow radially. in the same direction as the first blast of air, and will mingle therewith to form substantially a singleradial blast of' air. ,In other words, I am able to place two air blast generating means in end to end relation to obtain-double the normal air flow of one of the air blast generating means. This is an extremely novel arrangement and is based on a conception that'eluded me for many years.

The second 'air blast developing means or tune nel is supported relatively to the machine by an outer, sheet metal member a similar in construction to the member and similarly secured to the chassis frame ID. The air in-take of the second tunnel or airblast developing means is, of course, different from that of the first, andis substantially a duplicate of the means described in my Patent No. 2,476,960. Thus, a surface member 50 is secured to the extreme right hand structural angular member 31a to form substantially an extension of the inner surface 28a, 29a, and 30a of the tunnel. Similarly, a dome-shaped member'5l may be secured so that itsouter surface will direct the flow of air toward the blades 34a of the second propeller in the same manner as the surface 48 directs the flowof air to the blades 34 of the first tunnel. A wire screen 52 is appropriately "secured to guard the propeller blades 34m. The brackets '24 and 25 that hold the right. end of shaft 2| in place are naturally weldedito the cylindrical sleeve 26a in the same manner as the brackets 22 and 23 are welded to the'sleeve 26. I

For supplying spraying material to'm'y machine,.I utilize a pair ofmain circular pipes-53 positioned to one side of the end deflectors 35, 35c, as'clear1y show'n in the drawings. A series of cross-pipes 54 are threaded into the'pipes 53in staggered-relation, as is clearly shown at 55 and 56 of Fig. '2. Suitable supply hoses 51 extend fromthe' tank I3 as taught in my earlier patents and applications, and through these pipes ST spraying material is fed to the pipes 53 and thence into the cross pipes 54. By equipping the cross pipes with nozzles 58 spraying material is supplied to the radial blast of air that issues between the two tunnels of the machine.

I believe the construction and operation of my invention is now quite clearly set forth.

I now claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a tunnel, an air propeller having a central hub portion and a series of blades, means mounting said propeller for rotation in an axis longitudinal and substantially central of said tunnel for developing a how of air longitudinally through said tunnel, a cylindrical shell substantially the same in diameter as the hub portion of said air propeller secured in said tunnel coaxially with said propeller and forming with said tunnel an air ring for the passage of the air blast generated by the blades of said propeller, a deflector assembly secured relatively to the cylindrical shell and tunnel at the exhaust end of said tunnel, said deflector assembly having curved deflector surfaces for directing radially and outwardly the ring of air generated by said propeller blades and flowing between said shell and tunnel, a second and duplicate tunnel combination so positioned that the air blast formed thereby will be in a direction axially opposed to that of the first tunnel while its deflector assembly will direct the said blast of air independently radially in complementary relation to the first tunnel blast of air, and means for feeding an insecticide or the like to said air.

2. In a machine of the class described, a tunnel, an air propeller having a central hub portion and a series of blades, means mounting said propeller for rotation in an axis longitudinal and substantially central of said tunnel for developing a flow of air longitudinally through said tunnel, a cylindrical shell substantially the same in diameter as the hub portion of said air propeller secured in said tunnel coaxially with said propeller and forming with said tunnel an air ring for the passage of the air blast generated by the blades of said propeller, a deflector assembly secured relatively to the cylindrical shell and tunnel at the exhaust end of said tunnel, said deflector assembly having curved deflector surfaces for directing radially and outwardly the ring of air generated by said propeller blades and flowing between said shell and tunnel, a second and duplicate tunnel combination so positioned that the air blast formed thereby will be in a direction axially opposed to that of the first tunnel while its deflector assembly will direct the said blast of air independently radially in complementary relation to the first tunnel blast of air, said duplicate tunnels and deflectors being positioned so that said deflectors are substantially juxtaposed to form the two axial blasts of said tunnels into a single radial blast of air, and means for feeding an insecticide or the like to said air.

GEORGE WILLIAMS DAUGHERTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Niunber Name Date 1,080,763 Kerr Dec. 9, 1913 1,529,925 Say Mar. 17, 1925 2,169,233 Ponomareff Aug. 15, 1939 2,331,107 Daugherty Oct. 5, 1943 2,337,954 Wolfe Dec. 28, 1943 2,358,318 Daugherty Sept. 19, 1944 2,476,960 Daugherty July 26, 1949 

